Helicopters, ships and an airplane searched waters off Louisiana's coast today for at least 11 workers missing after an explosion and fire that left an offshore drilling platform tilting in the Gulf of Mexico, AP reported. Most of the 126 people were believed to have escaped safely after the explosion on the rig Deepwater Horizon Tuesday night, Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Mike O'Berry said. The rig, about 52 miles (84 kilometers) southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, was listing about 10 degrees and still burning Wednesday morning. «It's burning pretty good and there's no estimate on when the fire will be put out,» O'Berry said. Seven workers were reported critically injured, Coast Guard Lt. Sue Kerver said. Two were taken to a trauma center in Alabama. -- SPA
